Saturday, September 16, 2017

Hello!!!! I'm Zoe! I'm using my mom's blog because she doesn't use this blog anymore unfortunately.
My brother and I have grown a lot! I'm now grade 6 while Jose is in grade 3. Joaquin is now 3 years old!!Time really flies fast!! We got our MTAR or Midterm Academic Report. I'm kinda disappointed because I got ALMOST straight A's. But in art , I got a PROFICIENT grade.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

My 2 older kids both study now at PAREF. Luigi is now in Grade 1 while Zoe is in Grade 4. How time flies! Both schools also recently celebrated Filipino Week where they had to wear traditional costumes. Since this is a special event, I don't like missing blogging about it.
I will post some pictures once I figure out how to post using my iPad.

Zoe's class danced Leron Leron Sinta while during Luigi's program, they were the intermission number where they danced to Salamat by The Dawn. Luigi's performance brought back memories to me when way back in highschool, I would attend one of The Dawn's concert at Lourdes and they would sing Enveloped Ideas. I didn't think they had been using a wooden monitor stand during those days but I am pretty sure they do now.

Going back. My kids try so hard to impress us during their performance. And as parents, we are of course, are easy to impress. Just seeing them on stage trying their best is wealth enough for us. There may be more talented kids in the school than them but it doesn't matter because during each performance, whatis seen by the parents are each one's kids. Each one zeroes in their child. And with that, there is no competition.

If there is such a thing as blogger amnesia then I would think that I contracted it for months.

Last active post was March 2015. Where did my life go? Hahaha! So many undocumented milestones in my children's life, especially for Joaquin who came when I had started to show signs of 'tamaditis', if you know what I mean.

Anyway, for the love of "blogging para sa ekonomiya"' I am sort of back again. No promises on how long I can keep it up. Will always just try to remember the attractive reasons for putting in those words in this page.

The Inaugural Mass of the Pontificate for Pope Francis took place on March 19, Saint Joseph's Day. Joseph is one of Pope Francis' most beloved saints. He explained why during his trip to the Philippines in January.

POPE FRANCISJanuary 16, 2015 (Philippines)
"I have great love for Saint Joseph, because he is a man of silence and strength. On my table I have an image of Saint Joseph sleeping. Even when he is asleep, he is taking care of the Church!”
Pope Francis advised people to leave a "note" under the image of the saint for help whenever they have a problem.

"Joseph’s rest revealed God’s will to him. In this moment of rest in the Lord, as we pause from our many daily obligations and activities, God is also speaking to us.”
St. Joseph is described in the Gospel as a discreet but determined man, virtues that Pope Francis values.

"But like Saint Joseph, once we have heard God’s voice, we must rise from our slumber; we must get up and act.”

Pope Francis said on that occasion that faith does not distance us from the world. On the contrary, it brings us closer. For that reason, St. Joseph is a model father for the Christian family. He overcame the difficulties of life because he rested with God.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

His Holiness Pope Francis visited Manila last January 15 to 19, 2015. He sent out his blessing to all Filipinos and took advantage of every minute to spread the message of Jesus of mercy and compassion.

Unlike the last pope's visit (JPII) last 1995, I wasn't able to physically participate in the celebrations and gatherings with Pope Francis. I was out on business trip to Bangkok from January 13 to 17 and practicaly missed more than half of the celebrations. But I did try to be glued to the TV as much as possible when I returned. I certainly hoped to still feel united to the him during his visit.

I actually felt that the mass in Quirino Grandstand was so solemn and beautiful. I was teary-eyed for most of the mass. I would have loved to be part of the fantastic choir. (I was part of the WYD choir during JPII's visit to Manila). The music was so moving. They may have used some a nifty pioneer ddj-sx2 controller to control the sounds of the instruments that accompany the different voices.
The Pope's message in the homily and in bishops' response after the mass was was also very moving. I cried buckets! Hahaha!

I really wish that when the time comes, we will be able to bring the whole family to Rome to "see Peter". That's my dream for my family especially my kids.

Monday, November 24, 2014

That's just how you can sum up the past few days. There are currently so many things to do and so much traffic that hinders me from maximizing the time that can be spent doing those many things.

I know it's bad to complain but sometimes we just need to let it out so that we can release the stress. How I wish that we get to finish all the tasks I have in the office and at home. So many small things that I need to tend to. So much paperwork to complete and so little space for all the stuff that needs to be kept and filed (which reminds me to order heavy duty drawer slides - ovisonline.com for my cabinet).

Anyway, on the positive side of things, December is nearing and that means the Christmas bonus is nearing too! Thank God for my job and my bonus! Happy, happy, happy! Rich, rich, rich!

I am currently reading up on the life of Don Alvaro del Portillo via the book entitled, "Saxum".

Lifting from the online synopsis of the book:

Saxum—the Latin word means rock—is the nickname that St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, bestowed on Alvaro del Portillo. Don Alvaro, as he came to be known, was for many years the founder’s closest associate as well as his successor and first Prelate of Opus Dei after it became a personal prelature—a foundational rock for this dynamic international Catholic group devoted to promoting sanctity in ordinary life.Written in anticipation of Bishop del Portillo’s September 2014 beatification—his official recognition by the Church as “blessed” and a stage on the way to his possible canonization as a saint—the book is a fact-filled biography set against the background of historic events like the Spanish Civil War and Vatican Council II. It depicts a person of powerful integrity and conviction who set aside a promising engineering career to follow the vision embodied in Opus Dei. Don Alvaro emerges in these pages as a tower of strength, reliability, and good humor in the face of a host of threats and challenges that might well have defeated a lesser man.John Coverdale, an attorney and historian, is the author of two other books detailing the early days of Opus Dei—Uncommon Faith, about St. Josemaria and his companions during and shortly after the civil war in Spain, and Putting Down Roots, about Father Joseph Muzquiz, along with Alvaro del Portillo one of Opus Dei’s first priests, who played a key role in introducing it in the United States.
I hope you can grab a copy of this book as well.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

I've recently been thinking about Christmas and how it is a season of giving.

Ahem! So I thought of my 2014 Christmas wish list in case you would like to make it come true. :-)

Here is what I've been "wanting" (note: just want, not need).

1) An external hard drive with terrabyte space
2) New Nike Rosheruns for women
3) A new laptop (Macbook air?)
4) New wardrobe or cash to buy new wardrobe
5) Have the whole house repainted in time for the holidays
6) Mobile speakers from muscians friend
7) Airconditioner for the two other rooms in the house
8) A bike
9) Annual gym membership
10) A new bag

Being so toxic these days, I went back to old adage of "When Life Gives You Lemonds, Make Lemonade" and then found myself amused at how this saying has evolved depending on how's your attitude in life.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

We went to Macau without expecting anything. We just wanted to see the sights of the city and enjoy every bit of Macau history. With this in mind, our feet led us to a wonderful trip amidst a beautiful city with fantastic sights, sounds, smell and even taste!

Our very first stop was at the St. Paul's Ruins near Senado Square. The scene here is so romantic and peaceful. I loved how the church as if suddenly shows itself as we took a turn from where our hotel was. The impact of the church's ruins was great and I could just imagine how beautiful the church would have looked like when it was still intact.

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After St. Paul's, we went to Senado Square and took advantage of the free mini-concert by this band in the picture. I listened to them playing for a few minutes and was inspired by their jazzy genre and wonderful instruments. They must have known about pro line, I wonder! Too bad, we had to move on and dig deeper into the city.

Here is a picture of a typical wall that you can find in the streets of Macau. That blue and white design is distinctly Macanese. ﻿

And of course, another thing I couldn't miss while in Macau is their famous egg tart. Love this to bits!

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

September has always been considered as a birthday month in our family. Zoe turned 8 years old while Jose is now 5 years. How time flies! My kids are growing up so fast!

Sharing with you some birthday pictures.﻿

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Jose's birthday, also Mama Mary's birthday, was spent having a simple school party. Then we went up to Antipolo to fetch Zoe and afterwards we headed to St. John Paul II Parish for mass and dinner.

The next day, Zoe's birthday, we again went to Mass in Eastwood and then we let the kids enjoy one hour of play at Timezone.

I guess with the kids growing up, they tend to celebrate their birthdays leaning more to the way they want it spent, just as they want to decide for themselves like what clothes to wear or what toys or book to buy. We as parents, I guess, just need to keep up with them, keeping in mind that we need to still uphold the Christian virtues needed to be practiced by both kids and adults alike. :-)﻿

The first Prelate of Opus Dei and successor of St. Josemaria, Alvaro del Portillo will be beatified on Saturday, September 27, 2014 in Madrid, Spain. My father and sister will be there to witness this special event while the rest of my family, including myself, will be seeing it live via cable tv.

Just to share - I am very grateful to him for interceding for me in so many ways. For one, I saw my vocation on the same day he turned 80 years old way back in 1994. It was the perfet timing! And more recently and more significantly, he had given his love by helping me and baby Joaquin through the whole pregnancy ordeal last year which I and the baby miraculously survived. Thus, I believe to this very day Joaquin and I will not be alive right now if my family had not gone to Don Alvaro and asked for his help.

Now on the centenary of his birth, by the grace of God, this year also marks the year of his much-awaited beatification. He will be raised to the altar as among those who are called blessed.

Don Alvaro, please guide us from heaven to be faithful and serene children of Christ, just as you were.